Letters to the Editor for Oct. 12

Church issues are higher than simple politicsThe new Roman catholic bishop of San Francisco, California is Salvatore Cordileone. It has been reported that Archbishop Cordileone has declared that a Roman Catholic who supports same sex marriage should not receive Holy Communion. Archbishop Cordileone is issuing a declaration that the Roman Catholic faith should have issued a long time ago asserts this former Catholic seminarian.

The issue of same sex marriage is a mortal matter not a political issue. The church has precedence on matters pertaining to faith and morals and not the state. Archbishop Cordileone is stating that the Catholic who supports same sex marriage is actively condoning a "grave and mortal issue." And therefore this Catholic's soul is stained by mortal sin which precludes worthy reception of Holy Communion which is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. if a Roman Catholic receives Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin, he or she commits a sacrilege which is another mortal sin. If the Catholic does not confess this mortal sin when receiving the Sacrament of Absolution, he or she will go to hell upon death.

--Joseph E. Vallely

Washington Green

Advertisement

Murphy deserves to continue to serve CTI first met Chris Murphy in late 2005, when as an independent voter I felt that the Republican control of all three branches in Washington was unhealthy for the country. I was searching for a candidate who could challenge our long-term incumbent, Nancy Johnson. I had been told that Chris Murphy was that person.

I prepared many questions for my one-on-one dinner with Chris in Canaan. After a stimulating three hour give-and-take discussion, I felt strongly that Chris was the right person, and I committed myself to work for his campaign for the U.S. Congress.

One year later, Chris was our new Congressman, and as he left for Washington I hoped that all his strong characteristics and skills - his sincerity, intensity, honesty and dedication to so many worthy, but often neglected, causes - would not change amidst the partisan politics in the Capitol. I felt that his intelligence and experience in Connecticut government would stand him in good stead and make him a good and strong congressman.

Fortunately, all this has come true, as Chris has not only well served all the people of Connecticut and the country, but he has also worked to make the whole atmosphere in Washington less partisan. He is the co-founder with a Republican congressman of a bipartisan organization, Center Aisle Caucus, which reaches across the aisles to help connect all their fellow congressmen, in and outside of Congress.

In terms of jobs, he is the leader of the Buy American movement, which works to increase the number of products which the government buys from American companies, including many in Connecticut. Locally, he and his offices have reached out and responded to businesses to help them in any way that they can.

All this is in contrast to the vague and general "promises" being put forth by his opponent, Linda McMahon. This was shown in their first debate, when she refused to answer specific questions, and on her website, where she is using canned phrases out of the conservative national Republican playbook. The same thing happens on "personal" questions such as her stand on women's issues, where she says she is for them because she "is a woman" - but she supports the Blunt amendment which would deprive women of needed health benefits. When she did get more specific, she was totally wrong, as when she said she would support the American law on same-sex marriage.

But we have no such law!

We need Chris Murphy representing us in the U.S. Senate, just as he has done so well in his six years in the Congress. Chris represents intelligence and experience, as well as compassion and strong representation for all the people of Connecticut and our country, and especially for the Middle Class.